Animal birth detector

ABSTRACT

An animal birth detector is described comprising apparatus attached in the proximity of the animal&#39;s vulva for detecting the birth of the animal fetus by monitoring the size of the vulva during the period prior to and during delivery of the fetus. More specifically, the animal birth detector comprises a transmitter attached to the skin proximate one side of the animal&#39;s vulva, the transmitter utilizing a reed relay switch to sense the proximity of a permanent magnet located on the opposite side of the vulva. As the vulva dilates at time of delivery of the animal fetus, the magnet is moved out of the magnetic field sensing area of the reed switch, turning on the transmitter whose transmissions are received by a receiver monitored by the stockman. The transmitter and magnet are held in place on the animal&#39;s rear section by an adhesive coated or sutured vinyl holding pad.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is of the class of devices indicative that ananimal is giving birth to its young.

In the past, it has been found that many times whenever horses, cattle,swine, and the like give birth to their offspring, complications tend todevelop which require the aid of the stockman or the veterinarian toprevent death of the newborn or for that matter, the mother. If theanimal is not penned, it is common for the animal to attempt to hideduring the birthing, complicating the problem of locating the animal.

With the values which have been placed upon animals today in such casesas racehorses, milk cows, and the like, it is common for the stockman toremain close to the animal at all times during the expected period ofbirthing. This includes maintaining an all night vigil.

Obviously then, it is to a stockman's advantage to know exactly when,and if necessary, where an animal is in the process of birthing itsyoung. It is to the detection of the birth of the animal fetus that thisinvention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises an animal birth detector for mountingproximate the animal's vulva whereby a contained transmitter may emit asignal to an awaiting transmitter to indicate that the animal isactually in the process of birthing the fetus. More specifically, thesize of the animal's vulva is monitored by sensing its diameter duringthe process of dilation and when the diameter exceeds a specifieddistance indicative of birth, the transmitter is energized. The means bywhich the width of the vulva is sensed comprises a transmitter circuithaving a reed relay switch in its circuitry. The reed relay switch islocated as near one side of the vulva as possible and the sensed barmagnet is located on the other side of the vulva. Once the bar magnethas passed out of the sensing area of the reed relay switch so that themagnet's magnetic field is no longer closing the switch, the switchopens which in turn energizes the transmitter which commencestransmitting its signal.

The stockman, who is monitoring a receiver, picks up the transmittedsignal. The frequency of the transmitted signal is such that a directionfinding antenna may be utilized in combination with the receiver topoint the general direction in which the animal is located, if theanimal is not penned. The stockman then may seek out the animal andascertain that the fetus and the mother are in satisfactory condition.

The transmitter and the bar magnet are held in proximity to the animal'svulva by adhesive coated or suture attached vinyl pads which are adaptedto hold the transmitter and magnet in pouches formed therein. Anadhesive release strip is pulled from the adhesive coated side of thevinyl pad and after the appropriate area on the rear of the animal hasbeen cleansed, the pad is adhered to the animal's skin in position.Means are also provided to permit the suturing of the pad in place uponthe animal's rear section.

Accordingly, it is an object of the subject invention to provide a meansto detect the birth of an animal fetus.

It is another object of the subject invention to provide apparatusdetecting the dilation of an animal's vulva.

It is a further object of the subject invention to provide apparatus bywhich the location of an animal birthing a fetus may be determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified front view of the rear section of an animalshowing the invention in place.

FIG. 2 is an expanded top view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the transmitter wafer.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the transmitter.

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of the rear section of an animal with afirst alternate embodiment of the invention in place.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view of the rear section of an animal with asecond alternate embodiment of the invention in place.

FIG. 7 is the electrical schematic diagram of the second alternateembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the invention in combinationwith a receiver and direction finder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the animal birthdetector is shown in position proximate the animal's vulva. Morespecifically, the rear section 10 of the animal upon which the birth isanticipated is defined, showing tail 12, anus 14 and the animal's vulva16. On opposite sides of the vulva, in close proximity thereto, isplaced the subject invention comprising the transmitter portion 18 ofthe birth detector and the complimentary magnet holding portion 20 onthe vulva opposite side.

Since it is intended that the invention should indicate the actual birthof the animal, it is desirable that the invention not indicateflexations of the vulva which are preliminary to the actual birth ordelivery of the fetus. For the larger animals such as horses and cows,an indication of when the vulva opening has approached a separationthrough the center of three or more inches is generally indicative ofactual birth. It is desirable that the birth indicator be as close tothe sides of the vulva as possible and in the preferred embodiment, thebirth detector will then indicate when the vulva separation approachesthree inches or so. At this time, the transmitter reed relay switch willbe about four inches from the bar magnet, the outer edge of the reedrelay sensing area.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an expanded drawing of the subject transmitterportion 18 and magnet holding portion 20 is shown. Upon the outside andholding the transmitter in place is a flexible flat material 31 pad,such as vinyl, to which has been applied an adhesive, such as the typethat is used for colostmy patients. In particular, 3M Ostomy Seal hasbeen utilized. The adhesive is applied to the underside of the flexiblematerial pad and normally has a removable cover strip exposing thesticky adhesive. Built-in between the least two layers of flexiblematerial pad 31 is pouch 33 to which access is gained from the bottom,i.e., the adhesive side, by means of slit 35. Placed internally to pouch33 through the access provided by slit 35 is transmitter wafer 37, whichis defined supra.

On the opposite side of FIG. 2 is the magnet holding portion 20 which,like its transmitter portion 18 counterpart, comprises flexible layeredmaterial pad 21, which is also backed by the same or similar adhesivematerial as was transmitter portion 18. Defined between at least twolayers of the material pad 21 is pouch 23 into which access is gainedthrough slit 25, the slit being through the bottom layer of material pad21 covered with the adhesive. Internal to pouch 23 is held bar magnet27.

In installation of the subject invention surrounding the animal's vulva,it is anticipated that two fresh pads of the flexible materials 21 and31 will be obtained, the transmitter wafer and the bar magnet slippedinto their respective pouches (the adhesive covering release strip alsohaving a slit therethrough aligned with the primary slit through thelower pad material layer), the adhesive release cover removed, and thepads then placed upon the animal's skin proximate the vulva.

It is suggested that the skin surrounding the vulva shall be cleansedwith a cleaning material, such as warm soapy water, rinsed and dried. Ifexcess hair is present which might interfere with the adhesion of thepads to the skin, it may be necessary to clip or shave this hair off. Itis also suggested that tincture of benzoine will be applied to the areawhere the pads will be placed prior to the placement of the padsthereon. This is for the purpose of making the area antiseptic prior tothe placement.

The pads then are placed as close as possible to the vulva withoutobstructing the vulva opening.

Proceeding now to FIG. 3 a top view of the transmitter wafer 37 isshown. Located upon the wafer material is the transmitter module 41surrounded by its spiraling antenna 43. The transmitter module 41 isfirmly attached to transmitter wafer 37 by means of an adhesive andantenna 43 is a wire which is also secured to transmitter wafer 37 by anadhesive. It is anticipated that the transmitter electronic circuitshall be inside transmitter module 41, a small container, for purposesof safety or to prevent the components from being knocked off or apart.The transmitter is powered by a small electric battery which, in thepreferred embodiment, is of the same type used with cameras and which isinserted into the transmitter module through means of threaded disc 45(its periphery being threaded) which has a central slot cut therein soit may be removed or re-inserted by a coin. This type of cover for aninternally held battery is well-known in the camera art.

It is anticipated that the transmitter wafer 37 will be constructed outof bakelite, plastic, or other similar material. Naturally, it isdesired that the thickness of the transmitter wafer 37 plus the attachedtransmitter module 41 be kept at a minimum since this is going torepresent a protrusion extending from the skin of the animal andresistance to being knocked or rubbed off by the animal is highlydesirable.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of the transmitter which is ofordinary design and is contained within transmitter module 41. Theconstruction and operation of the transmitter is well-known in the artand operation will not be discussed other than to state that thetransmitter is commonly known as a low power transmitter, frequencycrystal controlled, and which is energized so as to commencetransmitting a signal upon the opening of switch S.

Switch S is a reed relay switch which, in the presence of magnet M, (nota portion of the transmitter module), closes and thus inhibits signaltransmission. Upon the removal of magnet M from the proximity of reedswitch S, the contact interior to switch S opens and the transmittercommences its transmission. Since the reed switch S is a magnetic fieldproximity device, it has been determined for the components which areutilized in the preferred embodiment and whose identification is listedat the end hereof, that when the magnet is more than about four inchesfrom reed switch S, the reed switch S does not respond to the nowdistant magnetic field and then opens.

The reed switch S is located inside the transmitter module covering,which in the preferred embodiment is made of thin sheet metal. It hasbeen determined that it does not make an appreciable difference whetherthe transmitter module covering is metal or non-metallic.

The above transmitter functioning is the case for the actual birth ofthe fetal animal. However, in the alternative, should the animal succeedin rubbing or knocking off either one of the two vinyl pads, thetransmitter would also commence to transmit its signal. This informs thestockman or operator who is monitoring a receiver for the signal thatthe animal is giving birth or has succeeded in knocking off the birthdetector.

Now it is known that for different types of animals, different andalternate embodiments of the invention best serve the purpose ofindicating birth. This is because the animal is known to be of a typethat might rub off the invention, or that the area surrounding the vulvais constructed such that any addition atop the skin would be susceptibleto being knocked off. To this end, the Applicant has devised otherembodiments to remedy these problems.

More specifically, and with reference to FIG. 5, a portion of the rearsection of an animal is shown where, surrounding vulva 16 are the twovinyl pads, the transmitter portion pad 48 and the magnet receiving pad50. However, there are two significant differences in these embodiments,namely that the pads 48 and 50 are sutured to the skin of the animalproximate the vulva, and holes for receiving the sutures are shown onthe periphery of the pads, these being holes 53 and 55. As an example,shown emitting from two holes 53 of pad 48 are suture materials 57 whichhave formed a loop under the skin of the animal and which ends shall betied.

The other significant difference is that shown in dotted form extendingfrom transmitter module 51, namely antenna 59 which traces its path fromtransmitter 51 through the slit in the layer of material of pad 48proximate the animal's skin, and continuing to the area of the animalnear the pads, being covered by an adhesive tape or other similar typeof material. It is anticipated that with this construction of antenna,greater range may be obtained.

Thus, if the removal of the pads from the animal's rear section isanticipated to be done by the animal, suture means are available toadhere the pads to the animal's skin. Of course, the adhesive materialmay also be placed upon the portion of the pad proximate the animal'sskin.

In preparing the animal for the application of the embodiment shown inFIG. 5 it is suggested that after the area has been cleansed, lydocainebe injected under the skin to numb the skin for the suture stitching.

A second alternate embodiment of the preferred embodiment is shown inFIG. 6 where all portions of the invention have been combined on oneadhesive coated pad 71. Here, as in FIG. 5, the transmitter 73 hasextending from it antenna 75 which is covered by the adhesive coatedpad. Now rather than depending upon proximity of a magnet to close areed relay switch, a miniature telephone type jack 77 is attached towire 79 which in turn is attached to one side of the adhesive coatedpatch by a stay 81, with the jack terminal penetrating to a jackreceptacle (not shown) inside the interior of the container holdingtransmitter 73. Here, as the vulva expands during the birth and itswidth has exceeded the built-in slack of wire 79, jack 77 is pulled fromits female receptacle interior to and wired in transmitter 73 circuitry,permitting the breaking of a circuit therein (FIG. 7) and commencingtransmission of signals from transmitter 73.

Reference now to FIG. 7, the basic transmitter circuit shown in FIG. 4is repeated with the exception that the former reed switch S has beenreplaced with the female receptacle for telephone jack 77. In thisconfiguration, when the male portion 78 of jack 77 is removed from thefemale receptacle, the contacts therein are permitted to separate. Thisallows the transmitter to commence transmission. For simplicity, thefemale receptacle which receives jack 77 has been shown in dotted formin order that the electrical connections interiorly may be illustrated.

Of course, the inverted "U" shaped pad of the second alternateembodiment may be sutured to the animal's skin, as well as, for thatmatter, the preferred embodiment.

In order to accomplish the invention described herein, the followingcomponents have been utilized in its construction: R1, 47 K ohm; R2, 560ohm; C1, 36 pf; C2, C3, 1000 pf; B, 1.5 volt, S-13 Eveready battery; T,sub-miniature, 16 turn (C-1 side), 2 turn (antenna side); Q, MMT 74,Motorola; S, reed switch, mini-25-11S, Hamlin; M, magnet 1/4 inch by 1inch, Samarium-Cobalt alloy; X, quartz crystal, 49.850 MHz, SC45, SentryManufacturing Co., Chickasha, Okla.; jack 77 and jack receptacle 83,Switchcraft, subminiature phone jack and jack receptacle.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a schematic block diagram is shown of thesubject transmitter used in combination with a direction findingreceiver. This is utilized when the animal is not penned and may bewithin a relatively large area, but still within the range of thereceiver. Here, because of the relatively high frequency which isemployed in the transmitter, direction finding is possible. Referringspecifically to FIG. 8, the receiver 91 is electrically connected to themechanically directed direction finding antenna 93 which picks up thetransmitted signals from the transmitter module 41. By this means, thegeneral direction of the animal may be located since, as earliermentioned, the animals have a tendency to hide when birthing.

It is noted that in the event that more than one animal is birthing andit is necessary to monitor all of them, frequencies which are employedby the crystal controlled transmitters may be varied so that it may bedetermined which animal is in fact in the process of giving birth. Inaddition, an oscillator in the audio range may be attached to thetransmitter such as to frequency modulate the crystal controlledtransmitter frequencies which, when employed, may be detected by an FMreceiver in order that birthing may be detected among certainselectively located animals.

Since it is anticipated that the subject invention may be used on agreat number of animals such as cows, horses, zoo animals, and gameanimals, it may be necessary to choose which of the embodiments is bestsuited, or which device is best suited for any one particular animal outof the same group. For example, when using upon horses, the extension ordepression of the vulva will help decide which method is best. If thevulva is depressed and of relatively large size, the preferredembodiment may fulfill all the requirements. However, if the vulva issmall, extended, or flat against the rump, where the pads may be rubbedor knocked off, it may be necessary to suture the pads to the animals'sskin. In addition, if the animal is to be at extended range from thereceiver, the larger antenna of the second alternate embodiment is bestsuited.

In experiments utilizing the subject invention, is has been bestdetermined that the invention be attached to the animal 12 days to 2months prior to the expected birth. Current drain on the batteryutilized with the transmitter is minimal except during periods oftransmission and long life may be expected from these batteries.

While the preferred embodiment has been shown and described, togetherwith two alternate embodiments, it would be understood that there is nointent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather it isintended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions fallingwithin the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. A device for detecting fetal birth in animals by monitoringvulva separation comprising:a two-part non-operably connected vulvaseparation detection means adapted to be attached on opposite sidesproximate the animal's vulva, said vulva separation means defining meanssensing proximity of one side of the vulva to the other, and signaltransmission means operably connected to said vulva separation detectionmeans whereby when the animal's vulva separates, the vulva separationdetection means senses separation of one side of the vulva from theother and the signal transmission means transmits such occurrence. 2.The device for detecting fetal birth in animals as defined in claim 1wherein said vulva separation detection means proximity sensing meanscomprises a first part magnetic field generation means adapted to beattached to one side of an animal's vulva and a second part magneticfield sensing means adapted to be attached to the other side of theanimal's vulva whereby when the magnetic field sensing means detects apredetermined reduced magnetic field strength due to separation of theanimal's vulva indicating birth is occuring, said transmission meanstransmits a signal indicating the birth.
 3. The device for detectingfetal birth in animals as defined in claim 2 wherein said magnetic fieldgeneration means defines permanent magnet means and said magnetic fieldsensing means defines reed relay switch means.
 4. The device fordetecting fetal birth in animals as defined in claim 3 wherein saidsignal transmission means defines radio signal transmitter means.
 5. Thedevice for detecting fetal birth in animals as defined in claim 1further including radio receiver means for indicating the reception ofthe radio signal from said signal transmission means whereby when theanimal birth is detected and signal transmitted, said radio receiverindicates the birth.
 6. The device for detecting fetal birth in animalsas defined in claim 5 wherein said signal receiving means comprisesdirectional signal receiving means whereby the direction of the birthinganimal may be determined.